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| birth_date = {{Birth year|1924}} | birth_date = {{Birth year| July 11, 1924}}
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| placeofburial_coordinates = <!--{{coord|LAT|LONG|display=inline,title}}--> | placeofburial_coordinates = <!--{{coord|LAT|LONG|display=inline,title}}-->
| allegiance = {{flagu|United States of America|1941}} | allegiance = United States
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| branch_label = <!--"Branch" or "Service"--> | branch_label = <!--"Branch" or "Service"-->
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'''Robert Louie Fernandez''' (1924 – December 11, 2024) was an American veteran and a survivor of the ]. '''Robert Louie Fernandez''' (July 11, 1924 – December 11, 2024) was an American veteran and a survivor of the ].


== Biography ==
== Early life and war service ==
Born in ], Fernandez enlisted in the ] in August 1941 at the age of 17, and was stationed atthe ] base on the island of ], ], west of ].<ref name="nyt">{{cite web |last1=Nostrant |first1=Rachel |title=Bob Fernandez, Who Survived Pearl Harbor as a Teenager, Dies at 100 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/14/us/bob-fernandez-dead-pearl-harbor.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=17 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241215060047/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/14/us/bob-fernandez-dead-pearl-harbor.html |archive-date=15 December 2024 |date=14 December 2024|url-access=subscription}}</ref> He later stated that he was motivated to join the navy because he "wanted to see the world".<ref>{{cite web |title=Bob Fernandez, 100-year-old Pearl Harbor survivor, dies 83 years after bombing |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/12/15/metro/bob-fernandez-100-year-old-pearl-harbor-survivor-dies-83-years-after-bombing/ |website=The Boston Globe |access-date=17 December 2024 |date=15 December 2024}}</ref> He was stationed on the ] and, according to military records, served as a ] cook and ammunition loader. Born in ], Fernandez enlisted in the ] in August 1941 at the age of 17, and was stationed at the ] base on ], Hawaii, west of ].<ref name="nyt">{{cite web |last1=Nostrant |first1=Rachel |title=Bob Fernandez, Who Survived Pearl Harbor as a Teenager, Dies at 100 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/14/us/bob-fernandez-dead-pearl-harbor.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=17 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241215060047/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/14/us/bob-fernandez-dead-pearl-harbor.html |archive-date=15 December 2024 |date=14 December 2024|url-access=subscription}}</ref> He later stated that he was motivated to join the navy because he "wanted to see the world".<ref>{{cite web |title=Bob Fernandez, 100-year-old Pearl Harbor survivor, dies 83 years after bombing |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/12/15/metro/bob-fernandez-100-year-old-pearl-harbor-survivor-dies-83-years-after-bombing/ |website=The Boston Globe |access-date=17 December 2024 |date=15 December 2024}}</ref> He was stationed on the ] and, according to military records, he was "a ] cook and ammunition loader".<ref name="nyt" />


Fernandez recalled awakening on the morning of the ], December 7, 1941, feeling "excited" to go dancing at the ] later in the day, which was used by the United States military as a ] center during the ].<ref name="nyt" /> While serving on the mess deck, Fernandez "began hearing bangs and gunshots". He manned a battle station a few decks below, while passing ammunition to sailors on higher decks. When asked how he survived the bombing, he remarked "You just do what you’re told to do and do the best you can".<ref name="nyt" /> Fernandez recalled awakening on the morning of the ], December 7, 1941, was "excited" to dance at the ] later in the day, which was used by the United States military as a ] center during the ].<ref name="nyt" /> While working at the mess deck, Fernandez "began hearing bangs and gunshots". He led a "battle station" several decks down, while passing ammunition to sailors on higher decks. When asked how he lived through the event, he remarked "You just do what you’re told to do and do the best you can".<ref name="nyt" />


After leaving the Navy in 1947, Fernandez was a cannery forklift driver in ]. His wife of 65 years, Mary, who he had a step-daughter and two sons with, died in 2014.<ref name="cnn">{{cite web |title=Bob Fernandez, 100-year-old Pearl Harbor survivor, dies peacefully at home 83 years after bombing |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2024/12/14/us/bob-fernandez-pearl-harbor-death/index.html |website=CNN |access-date=17 December 2024 |date=14 December 2024}}</ref> In 2016, Fernandez was interviewed by the ] for the television show ''Pearl Harbor: The Last Word''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Robert Louie Fernandez Collection |url=https://www.loc.gov/item/afc2001001.105946/ |website=Library of Congress |access-date=17 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241215060051/https://www.loc.gov/item/afc2001001.105946/ |archive-date=15 December 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref> He had travelled to Hawaii three times to remember the attack, and had planned to visit in 2024 to commemorate the "83rd anniversary of the bombing", but was unable to due to a decline in his health.<ref>{{cite web |title=100-year-old Pearl Harbor survivor recalls confusion and chaos during Japanese bombing 83 years ago |url=https://nypost.com/2024/12/07/us-news/pearl-harbor-navy-survivor-bob-fernandez-recalls-japanese-bombing-on-83-anniversary/ |website=New York Post |access-date=18 December 2024 |date=7 December 2024}}</ref> A week before his death, he did a phone interview with '']''.<ref>{{cite web |title=2 Pearl Harbor survivors, ages 104 and 102, return to Hawaii to honor those killed in 1941 attack |url=https://apnews.com/article/pearl-harbor-attack-anniversary-hawaii-97e21f0b36f969bf0c5b3a8bb2641694 |website=The Associated Press |access-date=17 December 2024 |date=8 December 2024}}</ref>
==Later life and longevity==
After leaving the Navy in 1947, Fernandez worked as a forklift driver at a cannery in ]. His wife of 65 years, Mary, with whom he had a step-daughter and two sons, died in 2014.<ref name="cnn">{{cite web |title=Bob Fernandez, 100-year-old Pearl Harbor survivor, dies peacefully at home 83 years after bombing |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2024/12/14/us/bob-fernandez-pearl-harbor-death/index.html |website=CNN |access-date=17 December 2024 |date=14 December 2024}}</ref>


In 2016, Fernandez was interviewed by the ] for the television show ''Pearl Harbor: The Last Word''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Robert Louie Fernandez Collection |url=https://www.loc.gov/item/afc2001001.105946/ |website=Library of Congress |access-date=17 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241215060051/https://www.loc.gov/item/afc2001001.105946/ |archive-date=15 December 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref> He had planned to visit Hawaii to commemorate the 83rd anniversary of the bombing in 2024, but was unable to due to a decline in his health. A week before his death, he did a phone interview with '']''.<ref>{{cite web |title=2 Pearl Harbor survivors, ages 104 and 102, return to Hawaii to honor those killed in 1941 attack |url=https://apnews.com/article/pearl-harbor-attack-anniversary-hawaii-97e21f0b36f969bf0c5b3a8bb2641694 |website=The Associated Press |access-date=17 December 2024 |date=8 December 2024}}</ref> He died in ], on December 11, 2024, at the age of 100.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bob Fernandez, 100-year-old Pearl Harbor survivor, dies peacefully at home 83 years after bombing |url=https://www.indianagazette.com/news/bob-fernandez-100-year-old-pearl-harbor-survivor-dies-peacefully-at-home-83-years-after/article_05c4e782-9bbc-5602-87f7-a90cfbabbcbf.html |website=Indiana Gazette |access-date=17 December 2024}}</ref> He was living with his nephew at the time of his death, having been in his care since 2022 following a ] diagnosis.<ref name="nyt" /> Following his death, it was estimated that 16 surviving service members are still alive, as said by the organization known as Sons and Daughters of Pearl Harbor Survivors.<ref name="nyt" /><ref>{{cite web |last1=Elassar |first1=Alaa |title=A legacy of valor: Only 16 Pearl Harbor survivors remain. On the 83rd anniversary, they still share stories of heroism |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2024/12/07/us/pearl-harbor-anniversary-survivors/index.html |website=CNN |access-date=17 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241216061104/https://edition.cnn.com/2024/12/07/us/pearl-harbor-anniversary-survivors/index.html |archive-date=16 December 2024 |date=7 December 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref>

He died in ], on December 11, 2024, at the age of 100.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bob Fernandez, 100-year-old Pearl Harbor survivor, dies peacefully at home 83 years after bombing |url=https://www.indianagazette.com/news/bob-fernandez-100-year-old-pearl-harbor-survivor-dies-peacefully-at-home-83-years-after/article_05c4e782-9bbc-5602-87f7-a90cfbabbcbf.html |website=Indiana Gazette |access-date=17 December 2024}}</ref> He was survived by his oldest son, Robert J. Fernandez, a granddaughter, and several great-grandchildren.<ref name="cnn" />

Following his death, an estimated 16 surviving service members remain, according to the organization Sons and Daughters of Pearl Harbor Survivors.<ref name="nyt" /><ref>{{cite web |last1=Elassar |first1=Alaa |title=A legacy of valor: Only 16 Pearl Harbor survivors remain. On the 83rd anniversary, they still share stories of heroism |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2024/12/07/us/pearl-harbor-anniversary-survivors/index.html |website=CNN |access-date=17 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241216061104/https://edition.cnn.com/2024/12/07/us/pearl-harbor-anniversary-survivors/index.html |archive-date=16 December 2024 |date=7 December 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref>


== References == == References ==
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Latest revision as of 13:44, 18 January 2025

American World War II veteran (1924–2024)

Robert Fernandez
Birth nameRobert Louie Fernandez
BornJuly 11, 1924 (1924-07-11)
San Jose, California, U.S.
Died (aged 100)
Lodi, California, U.S.
AllegianceUnited States
Service / branchUnited States Navy
Years of service1941–1947
RankSeaman First Class
UnitUSS Curtiss (AV-4)
Battles / wars
Spouse(s) Mary Fernandez ​(died 2014)​
Children2
Other workForklift driver

Robert Louie Fernandez (July 11, 1924 – December 11, 2024) was an American veteran and a survivor of the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Biography

Born in San Jose, California, Fernandez enlisted in the United States Navy in August 1941 at the age of 17, and was stationed at the Pearl Harbor base on Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. He later stated that he was motivated to join the navy because he "wanted to see the world". He was stationed on the USS Curtiss (AV-4) and, according to military records, he was "a mess cook and ammunition loader".

Fernandez recalled awakening on the morning of the bombing, December 7, 1941, was "excited" to dance at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel later in the day, which was used by the United States military as a rest and recuperation center during the Second World War. While working at the mess deck, Fernandez "began hearing bangs and gunshots". He led a "battle station" several decks down, while passing ammunition to sailors on higher decks. When asked how he lived through the event, he remarked "You just do what you’re told to do and do the best you can".

After leaving the Navy in 1947, Fernandez was a cannery forklift driver in San Leandro, California. His wife of 65 years, Mary, who he had a step-daughter and two sons with, died in 2014. In 2016, Fernandez was interviewed by the History Channel for the television show Pearl Harbor: The Last Word. He had travelled to Hawaii three times to remember the attack, and had planned to visit in 2024 to commemorate the "83rd anniversary of the bombing", but was unable to due to a decline in his health. A week before his death, he did a phone interview with Associated Press.

He died in Lodi, California, on December 11, 2024, at the age of 100. He was living with his nephew at the time of his death, having been in his care since 2022 following a dementia diagnosis. Following his death, it was estimated that 16 surviving service members are still alive, as said by the organization known as Sons and Daughters of Pearl Harbor Survivors.

References

  1. ^ Nostrant, Rachel (December 14, 2024). "Bob Fernandez, Who Survived Pearl Harbor as a Teenager, Dies at 100". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 15, 2024. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  2. "Bob Fernandez, 100-year-old Pearl Harbor survivor, dies 83 years after bombing". The Boston Globe. December 15, 2024. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  3. "Bob Fernandez, 100-year-old Pearl Harbor survivor, dies peacefully at home 83 years after bombing". CNN. December 14, 2024. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  4. "Robert Louie Fernandez Collection". Library of Congress. Archived from the original on December 15, 2024. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  5. "100-year-old Pearl Harbor survivor recalls confusion and chaos during Japanese bombing 83 years ago". New York Post. December 7, 2024. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
  6. "2 Pearl Harbor survivors, ages 104 and 102, return to Hawaii to honor those killed in 1941 attack". The Associated Press. December 8, 2024. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  7. "Bob Fernandez, 100-year-old Pearl Harbor survivor, dies peacefully at home 83 years after bombing". Indiana Gazette. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  8. Elassar, Alaa (December 7, 2024). "A legacy of valor: Only 16 Pearl Harbor survivors remain. On the 83rd anniversary, they still share stories of heroism". CNN. Archived from the original on December 16, 2024. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
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